Japan has a crime victim compensation program to provide financial compensation to victims
of violent or personal crime.

Eligibility Requirements

Report to Police: Yes; no time limit.

Filing Period: Within 2 years from the day the applicant recognizes the crime, and within 7 years from the day the crime is committed.

Claimants

• Victims of crime who suffer serious injuries
• Dependents of deceased victims if they legally reside in Japan
• Foreign citizens if the victim was a legal resident of Japan when the crime occurred

Procedures

The victim must report the crime to the police, and the police must recognize the victimization. A claimant can obtain an application from any police station or prefectual police department.

The claimant should send the application to the prefectual public safety commission through the police station or the prefectual police department that has jurisdiction over the address of the claimant. It takes approximately 5 months for the applicant to be notified of the decision, and it takes approximately 2 more weeks for the applicant to receive the benefit.

Benefits and Award Limits

The maximum awards in Yen:

Bereaved Family Benefit: 10.790.000; Incapacity Benefit: 12.730.000

Compensable Costs

None. The program provides the above lump sum awards.

Emergency Awards

If the program cannot quickly render the judgment because the offender is unknown or the degree of disability is unclear, the program offers the provisional benefit to the applicant.

Funding Sources

The program is funded by the National Expenditure. For bereaved children, scholarships are available through the Crime Victims' Relief Fund.

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